The present disclosure relates to monitoring sound in and around a vehicle to predict unsafe driving events, and using the sound information to detect and reduce unsafe driving conditions. A computing device receives information indicative of a sound in or near a vehicle. The sound information may be received via the vehicle itself or via a device. The computing device then determines whether there is an indication of an unwanted driving event. The computing device also receives vehicle operation data extracted from one or more vehicle sensors. The computing device then determines whether there is an indication of unsafe driving conditions, and if there is, the computing device may output a notice or alert via a notification system to alert the driver or, in certain embodiments, other parties via social media, text message, chat programs, and the like.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A system that detects and reduces unwanted events, comprising: a sensor configured to detect environmental noise data in a vehicle; and a device communicatively coupled to the sensor, wherein the device comprises a processor configured to: receive vehicle operation data comprising audio data from an audio system of the vehicle; identify noise data attributable to one or more occupants in the vehicle by subtracting the audio data from the audio system from the environmental noise data; identify a characteristic associated with impaired driving based at least in part on the identified noise data; determine that the vehicle is in operation based at least in part on the vehicle operation data; in response to identifying the characteristic of the impaired driving and that the vehicle is in operation, presenting an incentive to a driver of the vehicle to reduce unsafe driving conditions; determine that the driver of the vehicle has adjusted operation of the vehicle based in part on the incentive; and send a first indication to an insurance provider of the driver to adjust a policy quote based in part on the adjusted operation of the vehicle.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a noise detection sensor, wherein the sensor is embedded in the vehicle or in the device.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein identifying the characteristic of the impaired driving comprises detecting a change in the noise data characteristic of an unsafe driving event.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is external to the vehicle, in the vehicle, in the device, or a combination thereof.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device is a wearable or a mobile device.
6. The system of claim 1 , comprising a vehicle operation sensor that generates at least some of the vehicle operation data, wherein the vehicle operation sensor comprises a motion sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an engine sensor, a battery sensor, an alternator sensor, a wheel sensor, a camera, or any combination thereof.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the incentive comprises an alternative route or an offer of a discount for a particular product.
8. The system of claim 1 , comprising simultaneously outputting a notice or an alert via a notification system of the vehicle while presenting the incentive to the driver of the vehicle, wherein outputting the notice comprises generating a message via social media, a text message, a chat program, or a real-time a notification to a traffic service, a weather service, a fire department, or a police department.
9. The system of claim 1 , comprising: determine that the driver of the vehicle has not adjusted operation of the vehicle based in part on the incentive; and sending a second indication to the insurance provider of the driver to re-evaluate whether to increase a premium of insurance provided to the driver.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
September 23, 2019
July 27, 2021
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